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Match Study: Donald Young vs. Juan Ignacio Chela
8 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
It’s alive here at Grandstand. The court is filled up with fans even before Mal Washington makes the player intros. DY enters the court with earphones on, he picks the chair to the left. A huge ovation greets him but DY doesn’t acknowledge it: he’s in war mode. DY pulls out a new white cap from his red bag and package of wristbands, then his racquet. He shoots a glare over at Chela to his right. Chela gets up first and is chatting with Molina at net. They wait for Young.
A fan shouts: “Donald you can beat this guy!” during warm-up. DY takes a bathroom break after serves.
Young serves first. Big crowd here. Loud. First point is a DY forehand approach cross court which Chela’s backhand sends to the net. DY holds at love. Crowd is loving this start.
Chela falls to love-30 – DY has won the first six points of the match. He earns a breakpoint. That same guy all week yells: “What time is it?!” Break time. A big DY forehand forces Chela’s backhand into the net.
DY holds serve with a volley winner at net. 3-love for Young. He struts over to his chair with no emotion except for a subtle fist pump for mom and dad and two other people between them. They are about ten feet to my right.
DY hits an ace and looks at mom. 4-1 for Young. On the change, DY starts to eat a Clif Bar. He also gets sawdust for his hand from a dark gray wooden box – approximately the size of a show box – which he has placed on the chair to his left. I guess he pulled it out of his big red bag.
DY serves for the set at 5-3. A Chela backhand crosscourt winner stuns DY but he counters with a forehand winner. Then he misses a volley for 15-30. He whispers a four letter expletive and looks at mom. DY pulls Chela out way wide to his backhand but he nets a makeable backhand volley. DY has that pained expression on his face. Now it’s 5-4.
Chela unleashes.
Chela jumps up 40-love but DY, out of nowhere, turns the tide and levels it to deuce. He has a set point but sails a forehand long. Chela’s a warrior, his grunts are now more high-pitched, there’s more desperation and passion. He’s raised his level. DY has not. 5-5.
DY holds for 6-5. At the change, DY sits and towels his left hand, drinks water, and glances over at Chela. He sees Chela has taken his cap off, is relaxed and sitting back looking into the crowd. DY gets some sawdust and heads out to the baseline to receive. DY hits two forehand winners and looks at his box, as if to say: “I got this now.” Chela hits a net cord winners which falls over, 15-30. Mom says, “It’s you babe.” DY then hits a volley to win the set. Huge set for DY 7-5.
Chela changes shirt, DY does not. Chela looks over at DY, maybe a little stunned at the mental toughness he showed. As he returns his first shot, DY has a new bigger hop in his step. He’s more eager to play, he’s tasted victory.
Chela tries a tweener after a perfect lob but DY makes the angled forehand volley winner, then nods positively to his box: “I got this.”
When Chela crosses the umpire chair he mutters something to Molina that elicits a smile.
Chela breaks but then gives it back. At 4-4. Chela ups his intensity again. He grits and bares his teeth on every shot, like a wolf. Savage and furious. The world #24 is desperate now, he must win this set. Chela misses three out of four volleys and blows the set. Two sets for Young.
But it’s been a great battle. Chela was in position to win both sets but Young would not be denied. This is a new Donald Young. This is his breakout tournament.
After the first change of set three, DY gets a drink of water. He faces away from Chela, unlike how after the first set first change, he faced Chela as he drank his water, seemingly measuring or guaging Chela’s body language. This time he didn’t need to look over at Chela for any measurements. He doesn’t need to.
Chela serves at 3-4. It’s a battle. Deuce. But Young connects again on a forehand winner for the break. He holds serve to win the match. He gets a standing ovation. Young is jubilant and elated as he taps his chest and smiles to his family. DY thanks the crowd graciously and gives credit to them for helping getting him through. It’s sincere gratitude. Donald Young is a very nice and classy young man who it is impossible to not like. The crowd adores Young and the feeling is mutual. Andy Murray will be next.
Dan Markowitz · September 5, 2011 at 1:26 am
DY gets a big win. And Roddick looked formidable against Benneteau. Who would’ve thunk it that there’d be 4 Americans in the last 16! Isner should have a good chance to beat Simon (who’d of thought there’d be two guys named Gilles in the final 16!). Roddick a less than 50 per cent chance to beat Ferrer, but still can’t be counted out. As is the case with Young or am I being naive?
Of course, the best and most interesting of the American Rd of 16 matches will be Fish v. Tsonga. I think Tsonga has the edge, but Fish is the hotter player and may be able to exploit Tsonga’s big hitting.
The biggest setback in the US Open has been the abrupt exodus of Tennis Channel from the television coverage of the US Open. I’m not a fan of watching tennis over the internet, but unless Verizon and Cablevision here in the tri-state area make some kind of last deal with TC, we’re out of luck for at least the night matches. The US Open should reconsider granting TC the rights to the event if they can’t make deals with the cable companies.
Andrew Miller · September 5, 2011 at 1:48 am
I agree with Dan – Roddick looked solid vs. Benneteau. Agree with Scoop that DYoung brought some big stuff against Chela. Chela is a crafty player – good stuff here (again, dont want to jinx DYoung).
Not that it’s important, but gotta say Ms. Lisicki is pretty. I am a fan of Kirilenko and Panetta too. Cant help it, only human.
Andrew Miller · September 5, 2011 at 3:12 am
Isner looks like he has the best QF chance of all 4 yanks.
Sorry to say it:
Fish is just under even money with Tsonga, depending on which Tsonga shows up (either mitch or gans had said this previously). If Tsonga is feeling it this match could go south (whenever Tsonga is feeling it).
DYoung is a super underdog vs. Murray. Murray plays DYoung’s game, only better. It will take an off-day from Murray (possible) and DYoung playing an exceptional match. It’s possible, but DYoung remains an underdog here, not the favorite.
Roddick and Ferrer – it would be a tough match on any court but a grass one. Ferrer is having a good year and Ferrer, much to any player’s chagrin in NYC, LOVES the US Open. Odds favor Ferrer based on his year, Roddick is the sentimental favorite. Interestingly, if Nadal makes it through Muller and runs up against Ferrer in the QF, this is Ferrer’s match. If Nadal beats Muller to face Roddick, it could be Roddick’s match…
Michael · September 5, 2011 at 4:00 am
“we’re out of luck for at least the night matches. ”
The issue is TC and Cablevision, not Time-Warner which has all the TC coverage. I leave after the matches end so it’s not critical for me but I feel for those that rely on Cablevision. Sucks that this happened during the tourney.
I saw Muller (he rolled) a bit then Peng/Penetta (Pennetta lost a ton of match points and was choking/cramping/nervous but pulled it out), a set and a half of Young, the last two of DelPo (DelPo should have won the fourth; the last time they played at USO was 2008 and it was 5 sets as I recall so Simon always gives him a hard time.)
Then the entire Isner match. Bogo gave a good fight but was outclassed. Jon is vastly improved from even last year.
Then the best of the day. The tiebreaker between Kirilenko and Stosur (I remember it went past 15-15 but I can’t remember the exact score, maybe 19-17. Kirilenko won it to extend the match to three, then lost a break early). Their match was moved from Ashe to the GS but there was still a large crowd when I got their. A lot of people went from after Isner to see it. It was one of those classic USO moments that happen every year. The schedule gets rearranged and something good happens somewhere not planned, always late into the evening. And hats off to Kirilenko. She kept attacking the net and that isn’t something you see much these days.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2011 at 12:20 pm
What a heroic effort by Makiri, she came up short in the third but what a battle in that tiebreak, saving all those MPs. Unforgettable drama, Stosur is super tough though she kept it together in the third. Me and Richard watched the TB at the media dining room and Fiery Fred Stolle was a few tables down. He didn’t have much interest in the match.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Andrew I agree Isner is looking lethal right now, Bogie played as well as possible but that DF killed him in the TB when he was up the mini break. But he still fought tooth and nail and played an incredible TB but it still was not enough to get the upperhand on Izz. Si impressed by Izz’s game and fortitude, what a fighter he is.
Andrew Miller · September 5, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Isner has a definite shot at quarters – the favorite! From the Dan school of tennis coaching, here’s evidence that DYoung followed (whether consciously or unconsciously) the Dan-Spadea school of “how to train so you become a better player”:
“Young said he benefited by working at the USTA Training Center in Carson, Calif., during tennis’ offseason. There, he trained with fellow Americans Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey and hit with Pete Sampras.
“We were doing two-a-days in the gym, two-a-days tennis, which is more than I’ve ever done before,” Young said. “For a time right after I was beat, but I think it’s starting to pay off now. All the offseasons I’ve spent a week or two training and then at home just kind of having fun. I could have trained harder at home, but I didn’t.”
And there you have one of the reason’s DYoung is improving…I think? Deep practice makes a difference?
Andrew Miller · September 5, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Seeing my draw’s messed up anyways, here are my pix moving forward:
Djokovic over Dolgo. Djokovic is my pick out of this match. Dolgo is amazing. Djokovic is amazingly consistent and is serving well.
Tipsy over Ferrero. Ferrero having a great tournament. Funny how he and Andy Roddick are always doing well at the same time. Tipsy onwards to his 1st quarters. Ferrero COULD do it. I think Tipsy will do it.
Federer over Monaco. Losing to Monaco would be his worst loss in a major. I dont think it’s going to happen. (No offense meant to Monaco).
Tsonga vs. Fish. Got to go with Fish. Tsonga is the favorite. Tsonga might even win this in 3 sets. But Fish is playing better than Verdasco – has a bigger serve. Tsonga wont be able to do everything he did in the Verdasco match, as Fish is also faster than Verdasco. So, am going with Fish.
Isner over Simon. Isner has a better serve than Del Potro (Del Potro is still not back to his 09 form or confidence level). Simon’s had a great tournament. It comes to and end because Isner isnt losing serve.
Murray over DYoung. Murray believes he can win this match and loves hard courts. DYoung sees a player he’s beat this summer, who then beat an even better DYoung later this summer, who sees this tournament as a good chance to make it back to the finals. Would prove again that Murray is the 2nd or 3rd best hard court player in the world.
Ferrer over Roddick. Roddick’s certainly played himself into the tournament. However he lost in Austin in Davis Cup, and Ferrer’s playing as well as before (love the description of Ferrer – a backboard that can move and play offense).
Nadal takes out Muller.
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Djoker over Tipsy.
Fish over Federer.
Murray over Isner.
Ferrer over Nadal.
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Djoker over Fish.
Murray ovr Ferrer.
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Murray over Djoker, 1st slam for Murray.